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Passive vs active???
- Thread starter mixmastermike
- Start date
I'm in the same school of thinking - I tend to stick with the neck position P-pup myself but I do find I've got enough control over my tone from a passive tone control. That said, I'm not too particular about my amp setting, either - normally I start with all EQ "at noon" and adjust for the room if it needs it. And during a gig, I rarely touch the amp EQ; I've got enough control from the passive tone knob. If I do go back to the amp, it's almost always to tweak my volume.
So I am just curious to see about the active fans on here: do you often find you need to adjust your tone that much during a gig? Obviously, I can see the benefit when you're playing DI and often find your tone completely at the mercy of an inexperienced sound guy, but if you're happy with your sound to begin with, will you go to those controls frequently - or is it more of a safety net, just having that extra control there if you need it? (Obviously I can see the drawbacks to running back to my amp and trying to peer at the graphic on a badly lit stage!)
I am all about Active pickups. I have been jamming with QPs/Dimarzio/Fender P/Ibanez Super P4 pickups and comparing them to my EMG active Ps. I would recommend ANY of these pickups. It is truly all a preference. For a newer player, I believe that Passives are going to require BETTER TECHNIQUE. I prefer my Actives hands down due to the consistency and punch. I can bang away and the EMGs always seem like they compress my erratic playing and help me out. They are loud and hot too. I totally understand why anyone would HATE them too 
Passives to me are going to require you to learn to "adjust" your technique and learn how the pickups really work with your right hand attack. They are going to sound stringier, woodier, more warm and natural. What they will teach you is invaluable to me.
That being said, gimme the built-in preamps and the punch. and a pick.
Passives to me are going to require you to learn to "adjust" your technique and learn how the pickups really work with your right hand attack. They are going to sound stringier, woodier, more warm and natural. What they will teach you is invaluable to me.
That being said, gimme the built-in preamps and the punch. and a pick.
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 252
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
Yes, because I change my tone depending on the song I'm playing. That's both with a classic rock cover band I play with, where I try and get the bass tone from the record, or with the original band I play with, because different songs might require a slightly different tone.
So I can do it all from the bass. Once I set my amp up I don't touch it.
I like passive basses, I've also got a warwick which... well I just stuck an ACG EQ-01 preamp in which, while active, well its not much like the other preamps talked about here.... 
To the OP - stay passive, a new amp will prob be a better upgrade (depending in what you have now)
To the OP - stay passive, a new amp will prob be a better upgrade (depending in what you have now)
I was a knob-twiddler once. No more. I've decided that for me, simple is better. P bass, amp. I'm happier now with my tones than I've ever been, adjusting my techniques to suit the moment. Never fails, always works, every time.
But to each his/her own.
For me also, simple is better. I usually set the tone depending on the song, and leave it alone for the whole song, and more than likely will keep it at that same setting for most songs, usually all the way open or shut. No subtle tone variations from me, it's pretty much like Ron Popeil says, I "Set it and forget it.". The only knob I MIGHT twiddle a bit is the volume. I have no real use for an active setup.
I have played lots of different basses in my time, Some active and some passive.. I prefer passive. Active basses to me are unnecessary. If your are weak handed, and play like a sissy girl then maybe active is for you. I on the other hand, like to play the crap outta my bass. I pluck hard, slap hard, slide, bend notes hard etc.. And I get amazing power from the stock pickups in my jazz basses as well as all of my basses, some of them started out as active and were quickly converted to passive. 9 volt batteries are for SMOKE DETECTORS to keep the flames coming off of my fret board from burning the club down. Not in my bass. lol.. No seriously, It's a matter of personal preference, Active basses are IMO, easier to play for a beginner.
Oh yeah, one more thing.. An active bass has a ceiling of output power, since it has a preamp. Soooo if you slap hard enough, you could clip the signal into the input section of the internal preamp. ... passive is basically an electromagnetic coil with NO ceiling, as long as your amp can take it, it will send a clean signal no matter how hard you slap it. Also, who wants a DIGITAL preamp anyway? I don't want anything DIRECTLY AFTER MY FINGERS that isn't tube.
Oh yeah, one more thing.. An active bass has a ceiling of output power, since it has a preamp. Soooo if you slap hard enough, you could clip the signal into the input section of the internal preamp. ... passive is basically an electromagnetic coil with NO ceiling, as long as your amp can take it, it will send a clean signal no matter how hard you slap it. Also, who wants a DIGITAL preamp anyway? I don't want anything DIRECTLY AFTER MY FINGERS that isn't tube.
^those are some strong words there...
Fortunately for me and other active players, most are incorrect..
Fortunately for me and other active players, most are incorrect..
Hilarious :lol:
Well, I am glad you enjoy your passive Jazz. I love mine too, and I also love my active G&L and Stingrays, among others... and I disagree with just about every of your statements. It doesn't sound like you have played much any semidecent active bass :lol:
Yeah, Flea had so much trouble with active basses all throughout his career, you know, he always had to be sure to play like a sissy, etc
Enjoy your Jazz, macho man. It's a fantastic bass. It doesn't make your penis grow or anything though, it just sounds great ;-)
I don't normally change my settings much through a gig. I like the active basses I play because I like their sound, not because they are active, if you see what I mean.
I'm a big fan of a semiparametric mid control, like the John East midsweep which I have on three of my basses. I don't use it for any extreme EQ, but I use it to dial in the tone that feels "just right" for me, according to The acoustics, other band members etc. I find it easier than fiddling with my amp knobs (4 semi parametric controls!), and I like it at my fingertips... but It's not a deal breaker if I don't have it.
I mostly play a Stingray, but I also play a Jazz a lot... both work and sound good.
Out of the 3 basses I use, 2 are passive, one is active. I prefer the headless first (passive), and the Ibanez second (active). The Squier P-Bass can't produce the rumbling that the other two can on their own, so I have been thinking about getting a preamp/di pedal for it and for the convenience those pedals provide in certain situations. That PBass is, however, more even sounding than either of the other two.
I don't change tone on stage once I've found where I am comfortable (I always mess around with it at home goofing around). I didn't buy the Ibanez just to have an active bass. It was neat to have that much more control on the bass, but the excitement left quickly as I simply set it and forget it, cause I can do that in the music I play.
Strings and playing technique are what shape my tone more-so than what bass I play. But that doesn't work in every case.
I don't change tone on stage once I've found where I am comfortable (I always mess around with it at home goofing around). I didn't buy the Ibanez just to have an active bass. It was neat to have that much more control on the bass, but the excitement left quickly as I simply set it and forget it, cause I can do that in the music I play.
Strings and playing technique are what shape my tone more-so than what bass I play. But that doesn't work in every case.
